FR2585396A1 - DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE SIGNAL FOR LOCK - Google Patents

Abstract

A. CONTROL DEVICE BY AN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE SIGNAL, FOR LOCK. B. DEVICE CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE MANEUVER 152 IS MOUNTED ON THE OBJECT AND STARTED BY THE CONTROL CONTROLLER 110 WHEN THIS IS ACTUATED BY RECEPTION OF THE INSTRUCTION SIGNAL. C. THE INVENTION CONCERNS A CONTROL DEVICE BY AN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE SIGNAL, FOR LOCK, IN PARTICULAR FOR MOTOR VEHICLE.

Description

Control device by a wave signal

electromagnetic, for lock. "

  The invention relates to a device for

  improved lock controlled by an electric wave signal

  tromagnetic, this signal representing a specially pre-terminated code number. Although not limited to this application, the invention can be used to

  remote control of automobile door locks.

  Different types of mechanical locks are perfectly well known. This case, however, has the serious disadvantage that the number of usable key codes is very limited. Moreover, the maneuvering of a

  mechanical key is very boring.

  To avoid this type of inconvenience,

  it has already been proposed and marketed electronic locks

  tronic. One of the locks of this type, according to art

  previous, uses a set of pushbuttons.

  When the operator manipulates these pushbuttons for

  electronically form a correctly coded code number

  determined, and when this code number coincides with a preset number stored in memory, an instruction signal is generated to unlock the lock. In an alternative embodiment, a magnetic card is used in place of the set of pushbuttons. The card has a specially chosen code number. When this card 2. is introduced into a reception opening formed,

  for example, on a vehicle door, a warning sign

  truction is produced to unlock the door lock.

  In these use cases however, no remote control of the door lock

can be done.

  The invention aims to overcome the above drawbacks by creating a lock ordered at

  distance in which an electromagnetic wave is used

  to unlock the lock, in the only case

  in which an authorized person can access

near the lock.

  To achieve the above goal, the invention

  relates to a control device by an electromagnetic wave signal for a lock mounted on an object whose on and off order is to be controlled, this device comprising a portable key signal generator intended to provide an instruction signal in the form of electromagnetic wave, a fixed lock control controller for receiving this instruction signal,

  and an operating member of the lock, a device

  characterized in that the operating member is mounted on the object and switched on by the control controller when the latter is actuated by receiving the signal

instruction.

  In the above embodiment, the object to be controlled may be a door capable of opening, and preferably a vehicle door. The signal generator comprises a portable radio signal transmitter and a portable central control circuit connected thereto, the control controller comprising a fixed receiver for receiving the instruction signal, a fixed central control circuit, electrically connected therein, and intended to provide its control output signal to a door lock actuator, 3. the portable transmitter is intended to transmit an instruction signal-carrying a specially selected code number, actuating device being started on receipt of the instruction signal transmitted by an antenna mounted on the object constituted for example by the door

of vehicle.

  In addition, the fixed lock control controller may comprise a fixed control circuit, connected to a fixed receiver, and an output switch connected to this circuit, the key signal generator comprising a portable receiver for producing a control signal. at the reception of the signal transmitted by the fixed transmitter, and a portable central control circuit for providing an output signal to the portable transmitter when it receives the excitation signal of the portable receiver so as to produce a signal. a specially selected radio electric wave code signal, the lock control circuit being adapted to supply the control output signal to the door lock actuator in the case only where the output switch has been actuated, and o the radio wave code signal transmitted by

  the portable transmitter was received by the fixed receiver.

  The key signal generator may be a card-type electronic circuit, the necessary power source of this circuit being constituted by a solar battery formed on a card, the two cards being associated in a single box. In this embodiment, the output switch may preferably be attached to a door handle. In the embodiment according to the invention, the lock control controller may contain a fixed central control circuit connected to a door lock switch

  to detect the state of lock or unlock

  rusting of the lock. When an output switch connected in operation to the control circuit is brought into the ON position, an unlock signal is provided by this switch, provided that the fixed receiver circuit has received a specially predetermined code signal from the circuit. of a portable transmitter, and that the door lock has been kept in the lock state, or vice versa, a lock signal is then provided by the fixed central control circuit when - the output switch is operated and when the

  door lock was kept in the unlocked state

lage.

  In this provision, the circuit of

  lock, can preferably be mounted on a

  vehicle panel or other, and be electromagnetic insulated

  only towards the inside of it.

  In this arrangement again, the key signal generator is made in the form of a card sandwiched between the solar battery card and a card

of antenna part.

  The invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic view of a key signal generating circuit of the electromagnetic wave lock according to the invention; Figure 2 is a diagram of the lock control circuit used; - Figure 3 is a sectional view of the electromagnetic wave lock according to the invention, attached to a portion of a vehicle body; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a card board containing the C16 signal generator; and FIGS. 5 to 8 are functional diagrams of the various operating sequences

  several preferred embodiments of the invention.

  5. In Figure 1, reference 10 designates

  as a whole the key signal generating circuit.

  This key signal generator 10 may be manufactured in monolithic or hybrid integrated circuit having, for example, overall dimensions of 100 mm x 50 mm x lmm. This generator 10 comprises a central control circuit 11 represented for simplicity, in the form of a block, but which can in practice be embodied in the form

  a microcomputer or a microprocessor.

  A portable receiver circuit 12, a power supply circuit 14 and a push button 13 are connected to the portable central control circuit 11, via the respective input terminals I1, I2, and I3. In addition, a pulse generator circuit 15 is connected to the input terminals I4 and I5 of the central control circuit 11. A portable transmitter circuit 16 is electrically connected to the circuit 11 through the terminals of FIG.

  output 01 and 02. To assign a specific code number

  Preferably selected at the signal output from the transmitter 16, a matrix of diodes 17 is. connected to the input terminals at 115 and 010 and 015 terminals of the control circuit

  11, as shown here as a simple example.

  The portable receiver circuit 12 receives

  the signal from the lock control circuit de-

  hereinafter described and intended to provide an excitation signal to the control circuit 11. The receiver circuit 12

  includes an antenna 20, an amplification receiver

  generally referred to in the art (and later in the text) as a tuner 2i electrically connected to this antenna, a 2-2 detector

  receiving the output signal of the tuner 21, and an amplifier

  23 to provide the amplified output signal.

  from the detector 22 to the control circuit 11 for

to excite the latter.

  If a person carrying a card accesses the door or any similar object to lock, and supports

  on the push-button switch 13, an excitation current

  tation is sent to the control circuit Il instead of that provided by the portable receiver circuit. This latter provision, however, constitutes a variant of

embodiment of the invention.

  The battery 14 may, preferably, be a solar battery represented however in the form

simplified diode.

  The pulse generator 15 includes as

  main element a quartz resonator 30.

  The portable transmitter-16 comprises a mixer 31 receiving from an output terminal 02 of the control circuit Il, the specially selected code signal, as defined by the matrix of diodes 17, and receiving from the other output terminal 02 of the control circuit 11, a carrier frequency wave. The transmitter 16 further comprises a high frequency amplifier 32 receiving the output signal from the mixer 31 to amplify it and transmit it as an amplified output signal by an antenna.

as-company 33.

  A preferred embodiment of the key signal generator 10 is shown in FIG. 4, and is in fact in the form of a portable card board constituted by a central control circuit 11 sandwiched between a top sheet constituting essentially the sending circuit

  16 including the antenna 33, the latter being, however,

  not shown in Figure 4, and a lower sheet

  14, which essentially constitutes the power source 14. This upper sheet bears, in addition, n the push-button switch 13 which, like the circuit

  receiver 12, including its antenna 20, is not

felt in figure 4.

  7. In the key signal generator 10, the code signal wave is produced and transmitted by the antenna 33. This type of electromagnetic transmission can be done

  permanently, at any time and without stopping.

  However, the key signal transmission may, if desired, be performed selectively and exclusively only during the ON periods of the pushbutton switch 13 or during periods of receiving the specially selected code number signal, by the receiver circuit 12. The lock control circuit will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  substantially the same shape and

  sition that the key signal generating circuit 10.

  The lock command controller 110

  is mounted on the door of a building or a car

  mobile device, not shown, so as to be controlled by ON-

  STOP according to the invention or by a similar method.

  11l denotes a fixed central control circuit having an arrangement similar to that identified by reference 11 above, that is to say being in the form of a microcomputer or a microprocessor. A fixed receiver circuit 112 comprises

  an antenna 120, a tuner 21, a detector 122, and an amplifier

  123, designed and arranged in the same manner as indicated at 20, 21, 22 and 23 above, this receiving circuit being electrically connected to an input terminal

  I 101 of the central control circuit 111.

  A power supply line 114 is connected at one end to a conventional power supply source, not shown, and at the other end to the input terminal I 102 of the control circuit.

central 111.

  8. A pulse generator 115 comprising a crystal resonator 130 is electrically connected to a pair of terminals I105 and I106 of the control circuit 111.

as shown in the figure.

  A stationary transmitter 116 is electrically connected to the output terminals 0102. The transmitter 116 comprises a mixer 131 a high frequency amplifier

132 and an antenna 133.

  Reference 117 denotes a matrix of diodes similar to that shown at 17 above and connected to the input terminals I 110 to I 115 and to the terminals

  output 0110 to 0115 of the central control circuit 111.

  The circuit 110 and its various associated circuits represented and described above, is fixed at

  the object to be controlled by MARCHE-ARRET, preferably

  stalled by a car door or others. Although these constituting elements of the fixed circuit 110 shown in FIG. 2 are of similar shape and general arrangement to those of the above portable circuit shown in FIG. 1, the constants of the respective circuits are different. However, it should be noted that the specially chosen code number to be used for both diode arrays 17 and 117 is exactly the same. In addition, it should be noted again that the radio wave signal emitted by the transmitter

  16 is received by the fixed receiver 112 and that

  the radio wave signal emitted at 116 is

  received by the portable receiver 12.

  The fixed central control circuit 11 is constituted by a microcomputer to which is connected a first door switch 141 fixed on a door handle, not shown, a second door switch 142 intended to be actuated automatically to switch to the ON or OFF position. OFF following the closing of the door, and a door lock switch 143 for detecting the locked or unlocked state of the door, these switches being electrically connected to the respective input terminals I 103, I 117 and I 104 In addition, a power source 114, shown only in simplified form, is also electrically connected to the control circuit 111 by the input terminal I 102 thereof. Output terminal 0103 of circuit 111 is connected to a door lock operation circuit 150 comprising an amplifier 151, a door lock actuator 152 and a connected indicator lamp 153.

  electrically as shown in Figure 2.

  The mounting mode of the first door switch 141 is clearly shown in FIG. 3. The reference 200 represents, by way of example, a handle

  classic exterior door mounted on a

  bile D which is represented here only partially and

  schematically. The door switch 141 is a

  push-button mutator fixedly mounted on the side

  rear of the handle itself. The second community

  The door controller 142 is designed and constructed to switch to the ON position when the door is opened, so as to turn on the ceiling lamps.

of the automobile.

  On the other hand, the operating circuit 150 is designed and constructed in such a way that, when the door lock actuating member 152 is actuated by excitation of the amplifier 151, the door lock is brought according to the case in question. locking or unlocking position. The unlock position is

  detected by the door lock switch 143.

  Maneuvering power is provided by the output terminal 0103 when the fixed receiver 112 receives a radio signal corresponding to the specific code number transmitted by the mobile transmitter 16, and the fact is identified by the fixed central control circuit 111 so as to that the received code coincides with the same preset code in the diode array 117. This makes the organ function

maneuvering 152.

  The receiver 112 comprises an antenna 120, a tuner 121, a detector 122, and an amplifier 123 connected in series one after the other. As an antenna, it is preferable to use a heatable wire embedded in the door handle itself or in a glass case, although this is not shown in FIG.

  detail. In the first case, the door handle clean-

  ment must be at least partially

an insulator.

  As can easily be seen from the above, when the door switch is in the ON position, which means the door is open, no power

  output is provided by output terminal 0103.

  The device according to the invention operates according to four modes of operation represented by

  the four functional diagrams of Figures 5 to 8.

  When the door lock is held in the locked position, the door switch 143 is held in the OFF position while it is in the ON position in the unlocked position. This ON or OFF position is detected by means

  conventional door lock detectors, not shown in

  part of track 111.

  During a certain predetermined period of time, preferably of the order of 10 seconds, for example, the circuit 111 can not receive the input signal before a door lock operation signal has first been provided. 0103. It is only after this predetermined period of operation inhibition, as described above, that the state automatically switches to

  stop mode. If an authorized person carrying

  the key signal generator 10, personally accesses the receiving antenna 120 fixed on the door handle itself or in the immediate vicinity thereof, and if, of course, it is in the stop mode described above, a radio wave signal transmitted by the mobile transmitter 16 is received by the antenna 120, then transmitted to the tuner 121, the detector 122 and the amplifier 123, to reach the terminal

of entry I 101.

  The application of this signal is detected by a code signal detector, '= not shown, provided in the fixed central control circuit 111, which is provided with an excitation period limiter, not shown, intended to pass from its non-excited state to its excited state for a predetermined period, for example of the order

of 5 seconds.

  More specifically, when the card is brought by personal access to the door key, the mode

  stop will go into start mode.

  During the period of excitation, the differences

  The following verification steps are implemented

  by the fixed central control circuit 111.

  (1) checking the possible coincidence between a code signal input to the input terminal I 101 and the specially provided code signal preset by the matrix of

diodes 117.

  (2) check whether the door lock switch 141

is ON or not.

  (3 it is checked whether the door switch 142 is ON

or not.

  When the above signal coincidence actually exists, the code signal comparator, not shown, of the control circuit 111 provides a coincidence signal, and the door lock detection means provides a STOP signal, the detection means gate switch further providing a STOP signal. In addition, a control signal of the door lock actuator is provided by the output terminal 0103 to the amplifier 151 and to the actuator

  proper for a short period of time

  mined in the order of two seconds for example. This thus makes it possible to bring the door lock to the unlocking position. After two seconds of the control signal of the door lock member, the fixed central control circuit 111 is kept cut during, by

  example, seven seconds, so that no

  may not be accepted during the short, special period of

  planned. At the end of this second break period,

  circuit ll1 goes to STOP mode and is now

  ready to receive any operating control signal.

  When the person carrying

  When the key signal generator accesses the antenna, during this operating preparation period a radio wave signal emitted by the portable transmitter 16 is received by the antenna, and thus reaches the input terminal I 101. Thanks to this action, the central control circuit 101 is excited for a short time.

  predetermined period, whereas a comparison operation

  Signal reason is thus performed as described above. If there is a coincidence between the signals, a coincidence signal is produced by the code signal comparator, and an ON signal is provided by the door lock detector, while at the same time an OFF signal is produced by the door switch detector. At this stage, a control signal of the door lock operating member is provided by the output terminal 0103 for 2 seconds, for example, to the actual operating member 152. This excitation state is indicated by the lamp 153. The lock of

  door is then brought into the locking position.

  After this period of maneuvering time of 2 seconds, the circuit 111 is cut again for 7 seconds, which renders it incapable of receiving any signal coming from the outside. When the door lock is held in the locked position, the door lock switch 143 is again brought back into position.

stop mode.

  As a door lock actuator itself, it can be used, depending on the case, a

  reversible or double acting solenoid, a reversing motor

  or a unidirectional stepper motor. When it

  used a door lock maneuvering device

  In other words, it can be used, depending on the case, a reversible solenoid or double action, a reversible motor or a unidirectional stepper motor. When a specially designed door lock operating member is used, the circuit 111 may be designed and arranged in a corresponding manner, and the locking or unlocking control signal to be applied to the operating device itself. , can be applied by a

  other output terminal than that specified in 0103.

  When the operator carrying the card thus accesses the antenna 120 or even physically grasps the door handle itself, a specially tuned door lock radio control signal is received.

  of the portable antenna 20 by the receiving antenna 120.

  When the output power of the carrier frequency of the key signal generator 10 is relatively small, the human body of the operator can serve as a direct transmission agent to the receiving antenna 120. In this case, the carrier corpd the operator operates as a capacitor passing a small high frequency transmission current. 14. A second embodiment is now described with reference to FIG.

Figures 1 and 2.

  In this case, the central control circuit 111 comprises output switching operation detection means, not shown, in particular

  leading to an input terminal 103 connected to the switching

  The output terminals 0101 and 0102 are connected to a fixed emitter, identified as a whole by the reference 116. The output terminal 0101 is intended to provide the other code signal, while the output terminal 0102 is intended to provide a carrier frequency wave, so as to modulate the carrier by the code signal in the mixer 131. The modulation mode may be classically an amplitude modulation,

either a frequency modulation.

  When the output switch 141 turns ON, this ON state being detected by the detector, the circuit 111 is caused to go from its off state to its excited state for a period of time.

predetermined time.

  In this excited state of the circuit 111, the carrier frequency and the code signal are provided

  through the output terminals O101l and 0102, as described above.

  above, and mixed in the mixer 131. The signal

  modulated is amplified at 132 and transmitted by the antenna 133.

  This radio signal is received by the antenna 20, then transmitted by the tuner 21; the detector 22 and the amplifier 23, to the portable central control circuit 11, and detected by a trigger signal detector, not shown, contained therein. Following the detection operation described above, the code signal and the carrier wave are respectively provided by the output terminals 01 and 02, for a predetermined period of time, so that a modulation of the type described above, is applied to the mixer 31. The modulated signal is amplified in

32, then radiated by the antenna 33.

  The thus radiated code signal is received by the antenna 120. If the received signal corresponding to the correct predetermined code signal, an operating instruction signal intended to control the actual door lock actuator is provided. over there

  output terminal 0103, so as to operate it.

  Comparing the two forms of

  6 and 7 to that shown in FIG. 5, it will be noted that the output switch connected to the fixed central control circuit is implemented so as to provide a determined frequency triggering signal from the central control circuit. . Upon receipt of this signal in the antenna portion of the personally-carried card, a code signal is generated and provided for executing a lock operation or

  unlocking the door as appropriate.

  Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of the door lock device controlled by the radio signal, while Fig. 7 shows the functional diagram of the board. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, in which the output switch 141 is in the NARCHE position,

  the stationary transmitter 116 is turned on and a radio signal

  electrical frequency of predetermined frequency is issued by

  the antenna 133 (see Figure 6). When the radio wave

  electrical signal is received by the portable antenna 12, a radio wave 0 containing the code signal is radiated for 2 seconds by the antenna 33 of the card (Figure 7) and received by the fixed receiver 12. The rest of the operating mode of the door lock of Figure 6 is the

same as that of Figure 5. - 16. With regard to the map side of Figure 7, the circuit of

  central control is kept cut for a predetermined period, of the order of 7

  seconds, when the portable transmitter 16 is turned on.

  During this pause period, no instruction signal can be received from the side of the vehicle. At the end of this second break period of 7 seconds, the circuit of

  command is held in stop mode.

  In the final embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the pushbutton switch

  13 is connected to the portable central control circuit 11.

  When a push button operating detector (not shown) contained in this circuit detects the state

  operation of the switch, an electromagnetic signal

  Instructional gnetic is emitted by the portable transmitter 16. Upon receipt of this signal by the fixed receiver 112

  the desired operation of unlocking or locking

age is obtained.

  It should be noted, from the above, that in the case of the door lock device controlled by an electromagnetic wave signal according to the invention, when the card for transmitting a radio wave signal comprising a signal of specially predetermined code, is brought to the vicinity of the lock, and when the operator personally carrying the card physically touch the door handle itself by taking it in the hand, the door lock itself is brought as appropriate in the case. unlocking or locking position. This in fact makes it possible to perform a door unlocking operation faster without any boring mechanical key manipulation operation or without resorting to the memory

  personal to remember the code number or other.

  If the fixed receiver 12 is placed at a certain suitable point of the object whose lock is to be controlled, this object preferably being constituted by a body of a motor vehicle, the receiver must preferably be suitably isolated magnetically from way that no radio wave is received from the

  map and, of course, from the inside of the vehicle.

  Similarly, if the actual door handle is to be used as an antenna part of the fixed receiver 112, this antenna part must

  magnetically isolated from the metal parts

  for the same reasons as above.

Claims (7)

  1) Control device for an electromagnetic wave signal, for a lock mounted on an object whose on and off control is to be controlled, this device comprising a portable key signal generator for providing an instruction signal in the form of an electromagnetic wave, a fixed lock control controller for receiving this instruction signal; and an operating member of the lock, characterized in that the operating member is mounted on the object and started by the control controller when the latter is actuated by receiving the instruction signal. 2nd) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the object is a door which can   open> preferably constituted by a vehicle door.   3) Device according to any one   claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the gen-   signal transmitter includes a radio signal   portable control unit and a portable central control circuit connected thereto, and in that the control controller comprises a fixed receiver for receiving the instruction signal, a fixed central control circuit electrically connected thereto and for supplying its control output signal to a door lock operating member, the portable transmitter being adapted to transmit the instruction signal having a specially selected code number, and the operating member being turned on to the reception of this instruction signal emitted by an antenna mounted on the object in the form of a door of vehicle.   4) Device according to any one   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the controller   fixed lock control device comprises a fixed control circuit, a fixed receiver connected thereto, and an output switch connected thereto, in that the key signal generator comprises a portable receiver for generating a signal of excitation when receiving a signal from the fixed transmitter, and a portable central control circuit for providing an output signal   to the portable transmitter when it receives this excitation signal.   the portable receiver for producing a specially selected radio wave code signal, the lock control circuit being adapted to provide the output signal to the door lock actuator in the case only of the output was actuated, and o the radio wave code signal from the portable transmitter was indeed received by the fixed receiver.   5) Device according to any one   Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gen-   key signal generator is an electronic circuit in the form of a card whose power source is constituted by a solar battery formed in a card, these two   cards being united in a single card plate. ) Device according to any one   Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the   outlet is attached to a door handle.   7) Device according to any one   Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the con-   The lock control circuit contains a fixed control circuit connected by a door lock switch for detecting the lock or unlocking of the lock, and for providing an unlock signal when an output switch, connected in operation to this control circuit is put in the ON position, provided that the fixed receiver circuit has received a specially predetermined code signal from the portable transmitter circuit and the door lock has been kept in its unlocked state, or 20. conversely that a locking signal is provided by the fixed central control circuit when the external switch is operated and when the door lock   has been kept in its unlocked state.   80) Device according to any one   Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the circuit   lock control is mounted on the panel of a vehicle or the like, and electromagnetically isolated to inside of it.   9) Device according to claim, characterized in that the key signal generator is formed in the form of a card sandwiched between the solar battery card and the antenna part card.